Chinese New year!

A Brief History
Chinese New Year is celebrated as the Lunar New Year in
most East-Asian cultures, and has a
history of over 3,800 years. The earliest origins of Chinese
New year was associated with the cycles of seasons from
ancient people’s planting experiences during the Shang
Dynasty. During these celebrations, they would attribute
their food, clothes, and harvest to the god and ancestor’s
will, and ceremonies would be held praying for blessings
and peace at the end of the year. During the Zhou Dynasty
from 1046 to 256 BC, this worshiping became a social
practise that would be celebrated with family and friends.
Not long after, in the Han dynasty, the festival became associated with life and was held on the
day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. When celebrating, traditionally there are
firecrackers, dragon dances, lion dances, and other performances, which came into play during
the Qing Dynasty, which was from the year 220 to 1911.

Also known as the Spring Festival, it starts on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month
of the Chinese calendar. Each year corresponds with a Chinese Zodiac sign. The festival lasts for
twenty-three days, today is the second day of Chinese New Year and this year we celebrate the
year of the pig!

Culture & Celebration

Family is the most important part of Chinese New
Year. People usually gather for dinner, which
would include fish, longevity noodles, dumplings,
nian gao (rice cakes), and tang yuan (glutinous
rice balls). Most of the food being eaten is
symbolic, as longevity noodles represent a
long life and dumplings represent wealth.
Children would receive money in red pockets
from adults, and the house is decorated in plenty
of red decorations including banners and
lanterns. Red is a symbolic and lucky colour in the
Chinese culture, representing wealth and good
fortune.
The Lion Dance
The lion dance imitates a lion’s movements and
demonstrates martial arts skill, while also
symbolizing power, wisdom, and superiority. These
dances are meant to chase away evil spirits and bring
good fortune. During the lion dance, you would hear
music of drums, clashing cymbals and gongs.

Learn Chinese
In Mandarin, we say Gong Xi Fa Cai, meaning we wish
you great wealth and prosperity. We also say Xin Nian
Kuai Le, meaning Happy New Year!